On average, it takes 44 days to hire an employee the traditional way, according to human capital research and advisory firm The Josh Bersin Company and global recruitment company AMS.

Now, imagine your company requires immediate guidance from an executive title. As a recruiter, could you spend 1 and a half months to make an “urgent” hire? I’m pretty sure the answer is “No”.

Don’t worry! Hiring can be easy, accurate, fast, and remote using a skills assessment platform such as Testlify. You can easily choose from thousands of on-the-job skills tests and then create an online assessment to share with the candidates who applied for the position. In this blog, we will learn about skills assessment, their benefits, and our top suggested skills assessment tests for assessing executive roles.

What are online skills assessment tests?

Online skills assessment tests are modern tools used by employers to evaluate the abilities and competencies of job candidates. These tests are designed to objectively measure various skills, from technical know-how to soft skills like communication and problem-solving. They are instrumental in gauging the capabilities of individuals in a standardized manner, ensuring that all candidates are assessed equally.

In executive hiring, skill assessment tests take on a more subtle form. They not only evaluate the technical and professional competencies of the candidates but also focus on leadership qualities, strategic thinking, and decision-making skills. This is crucial in executive roles where the impact of these skills is significant on the overall performance and direction of the organization in the future.

The versatility of online skills assessment tests lies in their adaptability. They can be customized to suit the specific requirements of a role or an industry. At Testlify, we offer skill assessments for 11 sectors, including IT, financial, and hospitality. Sign up with us now to get a free trial.

4 challenges of Executive hiring without a skills assessment

General hiring has its challenges, but those challenges multiply in the case of executive hiring. Now, let’s move forward and take a look at some of the executive hiring challenges that recruiters face.

  • Pinpointing top talent: Executives are the guiding angels who keep the company from any apparent dangers using their years of experience. This is why narrowing the talent pool for the perfect executive is complicated without skills assessment.
  • Risk of making a bad hire: A misjudged executive hiring is not expected at any cost. But if a bad hire is made, it will lead to financial loss and the loss of the company’s reputation.
  • Cultural fit candidate: Executive candidates might have experience and skills to perform their job, but it’s hard to determine if they are culturally fit without a skills assessment test.
  • Transparent and accountable candidate: Executives must always be honest and responsible about their decisions; otherwise, the whole company will sustain the effects of their bad decisions. Screening the candidates through an accountability test will ensure they are transparent and accountable.
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How to choose the best skills assessment platform?

Choosing a skills assessment platform is very important if you are planning to integrate it into your hiring process for a long time. Now, there a few pointers that a recruiter should keep in mind when looking out for the best skills assessment platforms:

  • Maximum user-friendliness
  • Good customer support of the platform
  • Anti-cheating features
  • Well-rated by other recruiters
  • Various ATS integration support

3 steps to use skills assessment to assess an executive

Using a skill assessment can be easy if the user experience of that platform is up to the mark. But anyway, let’s look at how to use skills assessments to assess an executive role.

Creating an assessment

First, search for “executive role” in the search bar of the assessment platform and add the recommended skills to the assessment. You can even add custom skills of your choice. Then, after adding all the skill sets and reviewing the questions, it’s time to record a general welcome video for the candidates. After that, you can add a few questions that you’d want the candidates to answer on a recorded video of themselves. Finally, you can choose proctoring measures to apply to the assessment to prevent online cheating. The main proctoring steps that skills assessment platforms like Testlify can take are:

  • Disable full-screen mode
  • Webcam and microphone access before starting the assessment
  • Request location access
  • Capture snapshots of candidates every few minutes

Inviting the candidates

Now, the assessment is ready to be taken by the candidates. All you have to do next is invite candidates to take the test. There are three ways to do it:

  • Generate a public link.
  • Upload a CSV file.
  • Send a mail one by one.

Reviewing the results

After the candidates finish the assessment, recruiters can go to the platform and check for the results. Now, a recruiter can move forward with any candidate who stands out with higher scores. And reject any candidate who didn’t perform well enough directly with just a push of a button.

Pro tip: When designing skills assessments for executive roles, focus on creating scenarios and questions that reflect real-life challenges specific to your industry and company. This approach helps in identifying candidates who not only have the required skill set but also demonstrate the ability to apply these skills effectively in your unique business context.

How Testlify helps you assess executive skills in candidates

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Testlify stands out as a pivotal tool in executive talent acquisition, offering a comprehensive and nuanced approach to assessing the skills of potential executive candidates. Its platform is specifically designed to evaluate the multifaceted competencies required for high-level roles, making it an invaluable asset for recruiters and companies seeking to hire top-tier leadership.

One of the key ways Testlify aids in assessing executive skills is through its bespoke assessment tests. These tests are tailored to measure technical expertise, professional knowledge, and critical leadership qualities like strategic thinking, problem-solving, and team management. By focusing on these core competencies, Testlify ensures that candidates are evaluated on the most critical skills in executive roles.

Additionally, Testlify incorporates data-driven methodologies to provide objective and unbiased assessments. This approach minimizes subjective biases and ensures that candidates are evaluated fairly based on their abilities and potential. This is particularly crucial in executive hiring, where bias can significantly alter the course of a company’s leadership dynamics.

Moreover, Testlify’s platform offers scalability and customization. Whether a company is looking for a C-suite executive or a department head, Testlify’s assessments can be adapted to meet the specific needs of the role and the organization. This flexibility ensures that the assessment process is directly aligned with the company’s goals and the particular demands of the executive position.

Finally, Testlify’s user-friendly interface and seamless integration with existing HR systems make it an efficient recruitment tool. Streamlining the assessment process allows companies to focus on the strategic aspects of hiring, ensuring that they can swiftly and effectively identify and onboard the most suitable executive talent.

Pro tip: Utilize Testlify’s advanced analytics and reporting features to gain deeper insights into your candidates’ executive skills. These tools can help you analyze not just the results of the assessments, but also the way candidates approach problem-solving and decision-making.

Conclusion

In conclusion, using skills assessment tests, especially platforms like Testlify, is transforming the landscape of executive hiring. By providing a comprehensive, objective, and efficient means of evaluating candidates, these assessments ensure that organizations can identify leaders who are skilled and a perfect fit for their unique business environments.

The insights gained from these assessments go beyond traditional hiring metrics, offering a deeper understanding of a candidate’s potential impact on an organization. As businesses evolve and the demand for effective leadership grows, tools like Testlify become indispensable in shaping the future of recruitment and organizational success. Embracing this innovative approach will undoubtedly lead to better hiring decisions, stronger leadership teams, and a more robust and successful organization.

Transform your hiring process with Testlify! Sign up for free and book a 30-minute demo call to see how we can help you find qualified candidates efficiently. Elevate your recruitment today!

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Testlify evaluates various skills, including technical, soft, and role-specific competencies, tailored to multiple job positions.

Testlify uses data-driven methods and standardized tests to provide objective evaluations, ensuring fairness and eliminating biases.

Yes, Testlify is designed for easy integration with most HR and recruitment systems, streamlining your hiring workflow.

Testlify offers comprehensive support, including setup assistance and guidance on creating effective assessment strategies.

Results from Testlify assessments are typically available immediately after test completion, allowing for swift hiring decisions.